Farmington High boasts one of the area’s top runners in junior Maddy Trevisan and hopes to do very well in the 2014 girls cross country season.

With one of the state’s top runners and a good supporting cast, the Farmington Falcons look forward to a competitive season in girls cross country.

The team will miss four-year standout Jenny Rogers, but junior Maddy Trevisan is more than ready to assume the role of lead runner after an outstanding 2013 season.

In her first year of cross country, Trevisan finished 52nd in the state, running her best time (19:05) in the Division 1 meet. She also placed ninth in the regional, 34th in Oakland County and second in the city meet.

“I expect Maddy will start where she left off last year,” coach Charles Bridges said. “We already have some indication she’s ready to run the kind of times she ran at the end of the season.

“That means she worked hard and has done the training. That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about with Maddy.

“She’s such a positive force on our team. The kids watch her work every day. She’s talented but she really makes herself good, because she just works so hard. She’s a joy to coach.”

Junior Morgan Merlino is a fine addition to the team and could be an outstanding runner, according to Bridges. She had a good track season and should do well in cross country, too.

“Morgan is going to be terrific,” Bridges said, adding she chose cross country over volleyball. “She will be a nice complement to the team and Maddy.

“She’s an extremely efficient runner, and it’s just a matter of her adjusting to cross country and the terrain. I think she’ll be among the better kids in our league and our region.”

Jessica Maddox and Courtney Knoerl were among the team’s top five and helped the Falcons win the city meet last year, but both are soccer players and have decided to concentrate on that sport.

Farmington still has some other good runners returning in seniors Rebecca Lindow, Joelle Lochrie and Jessica Moilanen and junior Hannah Pierce.

“That group is going to make or break our season to be honest,” Bridges said. “How much they work and improve over last season will really determine our success to a large degree.”

He added Lindow has assumed a leadership role, gotten stronger over the summer and is ready to have a better, more consistent season.

The Falcons have a lot of new runners, and Bridges hopes one or more emerges to challenge and push the aforementioned group.

“Just getting that group pushed is going to make them better,” he said. “That could be the tipping point for our team and what we’re able to do.

“If they improve a minute over last year, which they’re all capable of doing, then, yeah, we’re going to have some fun. We’re going to make some noise.”

Defending champion Bloomfield Hills is still the team to beat in the OAA White Division, according to Bridges.

The Falcons also will compete with Troy Athens, North Farmington, Royal Oak, Stoney Creek and West Bloomfield.

“We’ll compete very well,” Bridges said. “It’s just a matter of how much we can improve and what we’ll be able to throw at Bloomfield Hills at the end of the season.”

He added the Falcons have a couple of freshmen who can help over time and some new upperclassmen who look promising.

“We’re optimistic; there are a lot of good things happening,” Bridges said.

N. FARMINGTON

The Raiders return one of their top runners in senior Shelby Abbott, and they will be greatly helped by the addition of junior Karlie Cummins.

Abbott is a four-year varsity runner who was the team’s No. 2 for the most part last year behind Sophia Farquhar, one of four graduation losses.

Cummins is a well-rounded athlete who has played two years of varsity soccer and had played volleyball. Due to a conflict with her indoor soccer schedule, she opted for cross country this fall.

In the Saline Early Bird Invitational last week at Huron Meadows in Brighton, Cummins was the team’s top runner at 21:05, and Abbott was second with a time of 21:58.

Coach Bill Pinnell thinks both will be all-OAA White Division runners, adding Cummins will get better as she learns more about cross country.

Senior Christina Visser is another veteran runner, but she hasn’t been able to run due to an injury that might keep her on the sideline for the entire season.

“We’re hoping she’ll be able to run,” Pinnell said. “Having her and Shelby would give me a strong one-two returning. With Christina being out, that’s hurting.”

Senior Priyanka Sankaran also has varsity experience and, though she didn’t run in the invitational, will probably the No. 3 runner.

“We’re going to be counting on her quite a bit this year,” Pinnell said, adding he looks for Sankaran to step up and contribute more.

“The girls have a great attitude and have been working hard,” Pinnell said. “I was pleased to see the drops in their times from the brown-and-gold meet.”

Pinnell hopes his young team can finish somewhere in the middle of the seven-school OAA White Division.

“I know one thing,” he said. “We’re definitely going to be improving throughout the season. The biggest thing is we have to stay injury free for us to be competitive in the league.

“I’m excited for the season, because the girls are working so hard. That’s the thing about cross country; the hard work will pay off.”

HARRISON

The Hawks return an experienced group of runners and have a solid base upon which to build this year’s team.

Seniors Erika Abbott, Jordan Scrimger and Emily Garcia and juniors Victoria Blaga, Maggie Kondek and Maya Roberts were in the top seven last year.

The lone graduation loss from that group was Shayna Kotzian. Her replacement is likely to be sophomore Josie Miller.

She has been impressive in practice and is a very good athlete who also plays soccer, according to first-year coach Pete Lamerato.

He replaces longtime coach Mark Babcock, who retired after 24 seasons. Lamerato has coached the varsity baseball team for a decade.

Seniors Kaitlyn Heiss and Jessica Ruona are returning runners, too. Sophomore Isabella Ayhllon and freshmen Abbey Garcia and Haley Chene have shown potential and could help this year, according to Lamerato.

“I really like our team,” he said. “The girls worked very hard all summer, running and completing various type workouts to be ready for competition. We are a strong team that I believe will improve throughout the season.

“We have a lot of leadership from our senior and junior group. They support each other and have continued to push each other to do their best day in and day out.”

“The potential is here for a very competitive team,” Lamerato said. “If our girls continue to work hard over the next several weeks, we hope to be in the thick of it when it comes to the league championship.

“I think we have enough talent to improve, not just from our top runners. Our young runners have a ton of potential to push those runners to be even better.”